Parts of North Fork Road now impassable
Yes, there is still concern that there could be flooding on the North Fork. No, it is not a certainty, and we just have to wait and see how fast the snow melts in the high country.
For all intents and purposes, the North Fork Road is now closed from just north of Joe Franchini's driveway to the international border. There are two obstacles.
The first is the pond that I have named Lake Karen after Karen McDonough, who, along with her husband Gary, are the only private landowners currently residing north of the lake. Karen thinks it should be named Lake Ovila after county road employee Ovila Byrd.
However named, it is deep and muddy, and vehicles risk high-centering on its edges. The only fix I can see is digging a drain, installing a culvert and filling the hole with pit run, topped by crushed rock.
The second obstacle is a mud bog which stretches for several hundred yards near the Sullivans' driveway. This has appeared several times in the past and can stick any vehicle heavier than an ATV. An unwary ATV driver could get stuck too.
Currently, no one drives past these two barriers. The mail carrier and the Border Patrol do not attempt to cross, and the McDonoughs walk out for mail or to meet a friend with a car. Who knows how much dry weather it will take to make the road passable?
On Saturday evening, the North Fork Landowners Association met for the season's first business meeting, and I was really impressed by the reports that indicated how much work and planning was done by the board of directors and the various committees since last fall.
There was only approval voiced about the new rental policy for Sondreson Hall. In short, any activity open to everyone and sponsored by an NFLA member will be rent free. Small groups like the North Fork Compact will be assessed a minimal fee, and private gatherings will pay the full fees.
The social committee has arranged a full and varied social calendar including two dances with live music. All social events are open to everyone and are free, except for the dances with live music. There will be a fee of $5 for everyone over 18 and a $2 fee for children.
Despite not receiving a Forest Service Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) grant for 2011, the Weed Committee will still be active, funded by $300 from the NFLA and $300 from the North Fork Preservation Association and some private donations.
The NFLA has two major projects that they are hoping to fund with the help of private donations. One is to replace or repair the aging outhouse and the other is to refinish the floor of Sondreson Hall. More on these topics in the weeks to come, but donations are welcome anytime. Lee Secrest is the contact person for these projects.